Tensions are high ahead of the Merauke regional election in Papua province, with the police currently investigating the death of a TV journalist and death threats against another journalist.
On Friday, Ardyansah, a journalist with local channel Merauke TV was found dead on Friday.
Ardyansah’s body was found naked, handcuffed and floating in Gudang Arang River in the regency. He was apparently tortured.
In the latest case, a journalist from Bintang Papua daily, Lala, claimed she had received death threats in the past week.
Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr Wachyono said counterterrorism squad Densus 88 had been deployed to Merauke to investigate the incidents.
“Preliminary investigations show these incidents could be the work of supporters of disqualified candidates in the elections. But we need solid evidence before we make any arrests,” he said Monday.
Lala said she had been receiving the messages since last week.
“You coward reporters, don’t play with fire lest you get burned. If you still want to earn a living here, don’t do anything weird. We’re taking numbers so get ready to be wiped out. The war drums are ready. We will wipe you out one by one. Merauke is ready to run with blood,” one text said.
Lala said she tried to call the number but got no response.
“This is strange, I don’t know why I’m being threatened,” she told The Jakarta Post.
She reported the threats to Merauke Police. The threats stopped, but were soon back in the form of a warning letter placed on her front porch written in what could have been blood.
“Bear in mind that we are serious with our threats. We know that police are searching for the perpetrator. Sorry, we are not careless. You’re dead,” the letter read.
Lala, who is currently in police protection, said she was not afraid as she did not write anything controversial.
With regards to the Ardyansah case, Wachyono said police were currently investigating his death.
Ardiansyah formerly worked for ANTV and local tabloid Jubi.
Wachyono said the body was in a bad state and that officers had to tie his hands to straighten them so the body could be easily placed inside a body bag.
He said the victim had a medical history of depression and was once treated at a mental hospital.
“We’re waiting for the autopsy result,” he said without specifying whether the two cases were related.
Jojo, chief editor of local daily Koran Rajawali, told Antara news agency earlier that journalists in the regency had received death threats via text message related to their coverage of the upcoming regional election, scheduled for Aug. 9.
“The senders say they would kill the journalists and that the victims could not seek protection from the military or police. Some of the journalists have reported the threats to the police,” Jojo said.
The secretary of the Papua branch of the Indonesian Journalists’ Association (PWI), Leo Siahaan, said he beleived Ardiansyah’s death was not related to his reports.